House Republicans have introduced the “Make Greenland Great Again Act,” aiming to authorize President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate the acquisition of Greenland from Denmark.
The bill, led by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) and supported by several GOP co-sponsors, would permit Trump to initiate negotiations immediately after his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Ogles stated, “American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people.”
Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, citing its strategic importance for national security and global freedom. In December 2024, he remarked, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
However, Greenland’s leadership has consistently rejected such proposals. Prime Minister Múte Egede stated, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
Denmark has also dismissed the idea. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated her stance from 2019, when Trump first proposed purchasing Greenland, affirming that the island is not for sale.
Despite these rejections, the incoming Trump administration appears determined to pursue the matter. In early January 2025, Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland, meeting with local residents and expressing his father’s interest in the island. During a luncheon, President-elect Trump conveyed via telephone, “Greenland is a very special place, and the United States will treat you well.”
The proposed legislation stipulates that any agreement reached would be subject to a 60-day congressional review period. If Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval within that timeframe, the agreement would take effect.
The initiative has sparked debate over the implications for U.S. foreign policy and relations with Denmark and Greenland. Critics argue that pursuing the acquisition could strain diplomatic ties and overlook the autonomy and wishes of Greenland’s inhabitants.
As the bill progresses through Congress, it remains to be seen how the proposal will be received domestically and internationally.